British singer-songwriter Rumer has announced the release of her new (fourth in all) album, This Girl’s In Love: A Bacharach and David Songbook. The tribute to the legendary songwriting partners will be released through East West/Warner Music on October 21.
The album features a dozen of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s most memorable co-compositions interpreted by the 37-year-old Rumer (born Sarah Joyce in Pakistan). Recorded at Hollywood’s Capitol Studios with arranger, composer and orchestrator Rob Shirakbari (who is also Rumer’s husband), This Girl’s In Love includes an appearance by Bacharach himself on piano. To mark the news, Rumer has shared a first track “(They Long To Be) Close To You”—originally made famous by the Carpenters—with live plans to be announced shortly. Pre-order is available here.
“I couldn’t have made this album five years ago,” said Rumer in a press release. “I think I’ve now got a wide enough emotional palette to draw on for these songs’ characters and stories. That kind of insight only comes as you get older.”
Rumer has long cited Bacharach, in particular, as a key inspiration, and the songwriter has expressed his own admiration for the singer. In 2010 (the year her multi-platinum debut Seasons of My Soul was released), Bacharach invited Rumer to his California home just to hear her sing. That same year saw the release of a special single, Rumer Sings Bacharach at Christmas, featuring “Some Lovers” from the new Bacharach and Steven Sater musical, Gift of the Magi. In 2012, Rumer also sang Bacharach-David’s “A House Is Not a Home” for President Barack Obama at the White House, as part of a tribute concert honoring the songwriting partnership.
Listen to Rumer sing “Close to You”
Even more pointedly, Rumer and Shirakbari married in 2015 in Shirakbari’s native Arkansas after first meeting at a Dionne Warwick gala at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where Rumer was to sing a duet of Bacharach and David’s “Hasbrook Heights.” Shirakbari worked for 25 years with Bacharach and 30 years with Dionne Warwick, serving as musical director to them both.
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Track Listing:
The Look Of Love
Balance Of Nature
One Less Bell To Answer
Are You There (With Another Girl)
(They Long To Be) Close To You
You’ll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)
Land Of Make Believe
A House Is Not A Home
Walk On By
The Last One To Be Loved
This Girl’s In Love
What The World Needs Now Is Love
